Garrett defends Gorgon approval
August 27, 2009 - 9:59AM
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett is defending his approval of the $50 billion Gorgon gas deal, despite acknowledging he was not required to consider its carbon emissions or alternate sites.
Mr Garrett gave the landmark project - tipped to double Australia's annual production of liquefied natural gas - the official green light on Wednesday after granting environmental approval.
But he has come under fire following revelations the deal could result in Australia's carbon emissions increasing by up to one per cent.
"Under that legislation, there's no requirement for me to consider greenhouse gas impacts or other matters," Mr Garrett told Sky News on Thursday.
"All I was required to do was determine whether there was any impacts on matters of national environment significance of the third train."
The final aspect of the three-train project involves the impacts on threatened species and marine life.
Mr Garrett said the other two trains were granted approval by the previous Howard government. He said he had merely strengthened existing environmental conditions.
There was also no scope under the appropriate legislation for the government to consider alternate sites.
But Mr Garrett denied his hands were tied, saying he was confident the development would have a minimal impact on the environment.
An anticipated five million tonnes of carbon emissions expected to be created because of the project proved all the more need for an emissions trading scheme, he said.
Meanwhile, Small Business Minister Craig Emerson shrugged off suggestions the Gorgon project should have been moved from the A-class nature reserve, where endangered animals like the flatback turtle live, to a more environmentally suitable location on the WA coast.
"It would have substantially affected the viability of it," he told ABC TV on Thursday.
"This is a proposal that has been developed and works in all engineering terms where it is on Barrow Island now."
Almost 30 extra environmental conditions imposed on the project by Mr Garrett aim to protect the island's ecosystem.
But Dr Emerson stressed Barrow Island wasn't an "untouched place".
"There's oil wells on Barrow Island now," he said.
The fact that the gas would be exported to Asia and used instead of emissions-intensive, coal-fired energy meant it was actually an environmentally friendly enterprise.
"If we truly do take a global view of this ... you get a very clear net positive for the environment and a clear net positive for the Australian economy," Dr Emerson said.
"If we reduce global emissions, that's got to be a tick for the Gorgon project and everyone who supported it.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/garrett-defends-gorgon-approval-20090827-f0ac.html
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